DIYEFI.org Forum

After watching those F1 vids in the lounge the other day, I thought about how easy it would be to build a from scratch road going race car using an alloy v engine as a stressed member.

I have two engines in mind, however there are probably others, and some may be more suitable.

1uzfe - http://stuff.fredcooke.com/road.race.car/1uzfe/
klze - http://stuff.fredcooke.com/road.race.car/klze/

first is 4.0 low revving v8 making 250 to 280hp
second is 2.5 high revving v6 making 200hp

I'd probably be unhappy with the 1uzfe in stock form due to weight and lack of revability and excess torque.

Recently there was a fancy car released, this is the engine and subframe setup from it:

http://stuff.fredcooke.com/road.race.car/m838t/

Some good ideas there.

That's all for now, just closing out tabs in my browser and sharing a few ideas.

Fred.

You could also think about the GM LS style engine.
The LM7 truck motor is 5.3 liter and does respond really well to boost.
These are cast iron engines, but reasonably cheap. Weight is 518lbs fully dressed with fluids.
The alloy LS version costs a lot more.

Thanks for the suggestions! But... :-)

I'm in NZ (well, not right now, but...) and GM engines aren't overly common with the exception of LS engines, which have pushrods, don't naturally rev, and are therefore exempt from this project idea :-) I'm favouring rev-i-ness over torque-i-ness as it will be so light monster torque will be a bad thing and many revs will be a good thing.

Welcome to the site, also!

Fred.

Thanks,

I have been reading for a few weeks, but dont have much usefull information to share. So I'd better say nothing
The only high reving V8's i know would be BMW and Audi. Very pricey. What kind of rev range are you aiming for?

Cool, feel free to ask anything, don't be shy, I only bite when people are being arseholes ;-)

The brand new ford v8's spin well and make good power stock, but they'd be expensive. I'm aiming somewhat low budget. 1uzfe = 1knzd, klze = 600nzd

That KL-ZE spins 7k stock, but can be made to rev much higher fairly easily. I'd feel totally comfortable spinning one to 8k in stock form, and with just manifold changes it would breath nicely up there too. I've wanted an NA KLZE in a light car for a long time, but this would make it perform so much better again :-)

Fred.

Fred wrote:Cool, feel free to ask anything, don't be shy, I only bite when people are being arseholes

Lots of people here will be more than willing help answer questions. I'd say don't be shy on asking questions the group here is typically good about helping out, and you will typically be judged if one asks the same question multiple times.

jharvey wrote:you will typically be judged if one asks the same question multiple times.

Not by anyone important! Ignore that, he's lost his sense of humour somewhere along the way :-)

If you're still feeling noobish, there are a couple of things you can read:

Noobs thread: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=1241
The FAQ: http://faq.freeems.org

Let's keep it purely about open wheeled alloy blocked dreams, shall we :-)

Fred.

I don't think the Ford Modular v8 would be a good base unless you choose the 4.6L version from the US.
The 5.4L found in the Falcons has a long stroke which results in a very high piston speed.

Are there many Nissan quad-cam v6's still available in NZ?
Have you thought about bolting an engine to a transaxle to make a mid-engine rear wheel drive?
Or start with a Hilux/Hiace chassis and build up from there. That would at least give you a chassis, 5-speed gearbox and a strong diff to start with.

Have a look at some of the build pics on this site http://www.race-dezert.com/home/categor ... re-vehicle. I know they are Offroad racers but the construction is still the same. The suspension geometry is the main difference.
If you have used fusion welding(oxy/acetylene) before then learning to TIG weld isn't that hard (that is if you were any good with the fusion welding) but get a qualified welder to build the frame if you use chrome-moly tubing. At least then he will be set-up with the right gas and welding rods too. I would suggest using steel and MIG for the initial projects, as that would allow a lot more flexibility as the design developed and it's easier to find a friend to borrow a MIG from for a case of beer... or two.

longracing wrote:Are there many Nissan quad-cam v6's still available in NZ?

No idea, any particular models in mind?

Have you thought about bolting an engine to a transaxle to make a mid-engine rear wheel drive?

That's all I've thought about ;-)

Or start with a Hilux/Hiace chassis and build up from there. That would at least give you a chassis, 5-speed gearbox and a strong diff to start with.

Nah, I want the engine and box to be stressed members if at all possible.

learning to TIG weld isn't that hard (that is if you were any good with the fusion welding)

I've tried TIG and I didn't find it hard at all, despite everything that I've read saying that it was.

but get a qualified welder to build the frame if you use chrome-moly tubing.

Probably wouldn't go to that expense on this, not first cut, anyway.

I would suggest using steel and MIG for the initial projects, as that would allow a lot more flexibility as the design developed

I probably would, yep, it'd be cheap then too, and strong enough to help prevent death when crashing.

it's easier to find a friend to borrow a MIG from for a case of beer...

I have a nice MIG of my own, so no need :-)

Good to see that you're still around! :-)

Fred.

Yep, I'm still lurking. I'm trying to keep track of most posts and still learning more and more, not just on this forum but in many different areas. When I have some useful input I'll chime in.

I found another link http://engineeredtoslide.com/category/ets-drift-ute/, still not a mid mount and it is a drift car but the project has lots of photos showing detail of the tube frame build.